Grass Roots Conservatism has Found its Wings

The first thing I would like to ask you in this post is that you read one of my old articles. Letters from MoveOn: Can You Spare a Couch, describes the marketing, networking, and training behind the Progressive movement's successful promotion of Obama during the Presidential campaign. One of the greatest successes of the Progressive Movement was the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States. As I described in many previous articles, Progressives are masters of manipulation and marketing. They feel a moral superiority that drives them to accomplish their goals by any means necessary. When I say we need to beat them at their own game, I do not mean to adopt their tactics. I mean that we need to learn to utilize all of our resources, incorporate the creative and marketing industries into our efforts and learn how to network.
Last week in DC, one of the things I heard most often from Conservatives was a regret at their own complacency. For years we've all been working hard to support our families and contribute to society. We've been minding our own business and tolerating the destruction of our culture, based on some misplaced concept that the Left has a monopoly on creativity. We've been burdened by an unearned guilt for having a better life than the 'less fortunate' among us and the sins of slavery and racism that many of us are too young to have been responsible for. And finally, we have misplaced our trust in the very people we have sent to Washington to represent our concerns.Conservatism reached an epoch on 9/12. We stood shoulder to shoulder with over a million of our fellow Conservatives and experienced a universal epiphany - we are not alone in our desire for a better America, nor are we an angry minority. We are concerned, hard working, patriotic individuals with a common cause. We have united in the defense of America as a Constitutional Republic, with a representational government that is subject to specific limitations and we have the power to change that government if it becomes bloated and over-reaching.
The reason I directed you to the article above, was to point out to you that Conservatives are finally learning to be activists. We are learning to play the game, and it is the only way we will have a chance. When I first heard about the 9/12 March, I was disappointed because I knew I could not afford to go. Two weeks before the event, I got an email from a fan of my art inviting me to go; I need only pay for my food. It turns out, there was a woman in Maryland with a vacant rental property that she was offering up as lodging for the event. The only requirement for use of the space was to have posters for the 9/12 March. I spent a frantic week making posters, which I signed and numbered to hand out at the rallies, and packing camping gear, preparing my family for my absence, etc.
The drive up from Georgia was beautiful, and I had many interesting conversations with Stan, who drove us up in his car. When we arrived at Karen's house, she was there with several friends and tons of food. The kitchen was charged with a level of excitement and camaraderie that I have not experienced in a long time. We all became good friends over the course of the weekend and I hope to see them all again. On Friday, 9/11, Stan and I played tourist around DC while the rest of our group shuffled between appointments with their Congressmen. I took loads of pictures and notes to share with you here as I develop ideas for larger projects. We were two of hundreds of people milling about the streets of the Capitol, excited to be part of an active effort, reaching out to one another and sharing stories. I met many wonderful people and it was one of the most encouraging and inspiring experiences I have ever had. We are learning to reach out to one another. To trust each other and to stand strong in the conviction that we are right.
There has been very little honest coverage of the event from any of the MSM since I returned, a reality I was already prepared for before I left. I don't need the external validation of a disdainful media or a corrupt government to know that my actions make a difference. I am not bothered by the lack of coverage or the disparaging descriptions of the event. I was there. I know what happened. I know why it happened, and I know in my heart that Conservative activism has just taken flight. I am proud of my fellow Americans, regardless of where they stand on this issue, for their determination to speak out and be heard. Until we engage in open debate with one another, face to face, we will not solve the problems we face as a nation. We must remove the power of government to control and destroy our lives, the influence of the media over our thoughts, and engage one another in an effort to solve our own problems. A revolutionary moment is upon us, and we must not allow it to go to waste.

This article is cross-posted at Liberatchik

I am Sick to Death of the HEalth Care Debate

I keep putting off this article, and finding it more and more necessary to write. There is so much information and anger out there on this subject, that I am absolutely exhausted. (A 'short' list of articles to follow) I have always distrusted the government, and it often earns me rolling of eyes and scoffing from others. So be it. And, because I am fed up, let me just say: "I told you so". If you can't see the current behavior coming out of Washington as proof of big government, you never will.

We live in America, yet assembly is considered terrorism. We live in America, yet speech is considered evil. We live in America, where our Representatives insult and ignore us. We live in America, where we are on the verge of tyranny. Go ahead, roll your eyes. But don't look to me for sympathy when your nanny puts you over her collective knee and spanks you for getting out of line. Your day will come, don't doubt it for a minute.

Now that I've gotten my rant out, let me get on to a more reasoned presentation. We currently have a President who would rather beat us to death with Rules for Radicals, than allow dissent. Apparently he is the ultimate authority on everything, even when he 'doesn't have all of the information'. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what he knows, because he just wants to be in charge. Repeat after the teleprompter: "The State knows what is best for me". He is backed by a majority in Congress who have no respect for the people they represent. They gloat about their power and dismiss their constituents with accusations and insults. They have grown confident in their ability to wield their power unchecked. All of them are followed and propped up by a lazy and unwitting or avaricious vocal minority who would sell their souls for a 'free' ride at the expense of the rest of us. The greatest mistake we have made is to be decent, hard-working people who respect the opinions of others.

The media plays along by willfully misrepresenting the facts to curry favor and promote an agenda. We see newscasts on major networks editing footage to portray angry black men as white racists. I guess the journalistic standards went out the window with limited government. All of this, while ignoring the deceit and hypocrisy of the President. The level of anger, class and racial tensions being promoted recently is creating damage that will take years to repair. Americans are being pitted against one another on manufactured grounds and escalated fears that are resulting in resentment and anger toward one another rather than those who are responsible.

This article will be cross-posted at my Modern Conservative.

The promised reading material:

News:

Universal HealthCare and the Waistline Police, The GOP SHould Fight HEalthCare Rationing, Pay to Play Politics, The SEIU, and Obamacare, HealthCare is Not a Right, Stimulus Bill Wins Final Approval from Senate, Grandma's Run, Grand Inquisitor Endorses Obama Health Plan,HealthCare Overhaul Threatens States, Government Run HEalthcare Plan Worse Than Anyone Imagined, Democrats Grow Wary as Health Bill Advances, Obama Tries to Pitch HealthCare on Conasumer Level, Democrats May Limit Tax Increase for Health Plan, Who Will Tell Michael J. Fox He Needs to Die, You Are Terrifying Us, Obama May Drop Government Run Health Plan,Big Government, Big Mistake, Obama's HealthCare Horror, Obama's Orwellian Advisor...

Papers:

Principles for Allocations of Scarce Medical Interventions

I've been busy lately

Here is a hodge podge of things I have been reading, writing, or working on the last week:

The Day Racism Died, by Jay @ The Break Room This is an editorial on President Obama's recent comments, which he later retracted to a degree, regarding the actions of a police officer doinghis job. Most of you here know how I feel about Obam, so I will leave you with the article.

A series of work @ Big Hollywood by Scott Graves: Warhol, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 Let me say this: "I can't stand Warhol's work". However, this series of articles raises some good questions about art. marketing, philosophy, and our future as Conservatives (those of us who are) in the creative industries. If you have time, read the whole series and chip in on the comments. I found it worth the time.

A Contradictory Exhibit of Art in Search of Dialogue an article about an art show I attended recently. Those of you who are artists or members of the larger art community should be fore warned: I have very strict guidelines for what I consider art, particularly good art. You may be offended by my opinions. Keep in mind that art is subjective, and opinion is opinion. I definitely have a bias, given my treatment by the art community. When people start telling you to tone it down a bit so you can sell your work, you tend to get a little offensive.
To the rest of you, enjoy. This article is particularly appropriate in conjunction with the Warhol series.

Socialized Medicine, A Crisis We can't Afford to Ignore

I have been absent from the blog most of this week, because I have been trying to fight the upcoming Health Care 'Reform' bill. As many of you know, this bill will do nothing to improve the health care industry or curb costs. It is just as cumbersome, invasive, and regulatory as any other socialized program. With the programs in Cuba, England and Canada crashing down upon their heads, one has to wonder why our own government would attempt to foist the same monstrosity upon us. It amounts to the same thing that it always does with government programs - power. This is not about choices, options, improvement or the common good. It is about the government telling you what you can have, when you can have it, and at what point your life becomes economically unfeasible. Even the New York Times is giving some of the opposing information without their typical spin.
Yesterday, I attended a rally at my Senator's office. For those of you who don't live in my district, Saxby Chambliss is one of those worthless 'Conservative' turncoats who does enough to get re-elected, then leaves us twisting in the wind. I have yet to understand why he continues to win re-election after voting for the Medicare Prescription Entitlement bill, the Bush Stimulus that led to the Socialism of the banking and auto industries, and various affirmative action bills. He is also a proud proponent of Congressional pork and bi-partisan efforts to help the less fortunate. In short, he is a Blue Dog Democrat who signed up with the Republicans because he's too 'moderate' for the Progressives and Liberals running the Democrat Party. Even so, the old ladies at the rally yesterday were crooning about how 'he's got our backs on this one" because he's a 'Conservative'. I guess if you repeat a lie enough times, it becomes an acceptable imitation of the truth.
Chambliss's office sent a representative, Mr. Kendall, out to speak to us, so we wouldn't crowd the reception area. Although we met outside the building in the courtyard, we were informed by the representative and security, that we were to move from the area to a park across the street. We were not being loud or unruly, and there were not enough of us to crowd the space, but he was just doing his job so we complied. Conveniently, the park was not only across the street, but below street level, so we were effectively invisible at that point. When the representative from Chambliss's office came down with the security guard to speak to us they looked as though they were nervous. Maybe they're not used to protests, or they have an overblown perception of how people behave, because I don't find a crowd of senior citizens with two moms and a toddler threatening. Maybe the fact that they made us stand out in the sun for an hour before giving us 10 minutes to ask questions had something to do with it. Or perhaps, we looked like a bunch of homegrown terrorists. Your guess is as good as mine.
To be fair, Mr. Kendall, did offer to take us up to the office, but insisted there wouldn't be enough room for us all. He also brought us water - thanks. So, we finally put the question to Mr. Kendall: Does Senator Chambliss support or oppose this bill? Mr. Kendall's response was that he opposes it, but I suspect he is only giving us half the answer. That may be the true reason for his nervous demeanor - Chambliss's record does not support the assertion that he will oppose the bill if he is offered something he wants in return. The other reason I smell a rat on this is the lack of response I have received from their office on this issue. I have sent several letters recently on various issues, and health care is the only one they did not respond to.All of this is bad enough, but this morning I got an article from regarding the Health Care Bill. It says that Obama has given up his attempt to get 60 votes on the bill and instead has decided to use the budget reconciliation procedures to push it through with 50. I'm not an expert on how this works, so please do your homework and verify this claim. Then, do whatever you can to raise awareness of this new tactic to ram government health care we don't want down our throats.
For information on the body of the as well as those not yet up for a vote, please visit the Library of Congress
For information on the voting record of you Congressmen, please visit Project Vote Smart

Letters from MoveOn: What Would Obama Have Us Change?

Obama: "My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."
From Daniel Mintz @ MoveOn.org: "Want to see what Change looks like? Real Change? ...Last week, President Obama unveiled his budget - his and it's ambitious, amazing, and unapologetically progressive. As Paul Krugman said, it will set America on a 'fundamentally new course'. ...President Obama called his new budget a 'threat to the status quo'. ...Unfortunately, most people don't realize how far-reaching and progressive this plan will be - that's where we all come in. Sunday, March 1, 2009.Now, to my point.
What would Obama have us change about 'the greatest nation in the history of the world'?
Would he like us to cease being the land of the free and home of the brave? I think we know the answer to that, don't we?
Would he have us turn our back on the Constitution and the founding principles of America? We're already pretty far down that road without his help.
Would he have us turn our back on the free market and the opportunities available to those who are willing to work hard and prosper? You do realize equality brings us all down to the same level, rather than creating prosperity?
I know he would have us become a Democracy, subject to mob rule, rather than a Republic. When the parasites can control the income and property rights of the achievers, the end is not far off.
Would Obama have us stop our charitable contributions and mission work on behalf of the less fortunate? No, he simply wants control over the definition of needy and the power to distribute our money for his own gains.
Would he have us reduce our military force and weaken our defense against terrorists? Absolutely.
Would he infringe on our civil liberties in ways Bush and Clinton never dreamed of? You bet.
Would he have us surrender our time, money, and property in the name of equality and service to our fellow man? He has said so on many occaisions.
Would he ruin the economy in the pursuit of his concept of fairness? He said that too.
Would he cripple businesses in a quest to end global warming and income inequality? Yes on both points.
Would he turn America from one of the most prosperous countries in the world, to one of the least? Yep.
I have one more question for you: Do you want to stand idly by, while he takes advantage of the successful marketing campaign MoveOn is running on his behalf, or do you want to organize and recruit a truly Conservative opposition? It won't be easy, and it won't happen immediately, but it can happen. The fool's gold looses its luster when the fools realize it won't buy bread and milk for their kids or pay the mortgage.
In closing, I'll leave you with a couple of quotes.
"...His silver tongue seemed tied in knots when he was asked why, despite his promises to cut the deficit, projections have it rising dramatically - trillions beyond what his own office estimates.The true answer is that Obama wants to spend far more than the nation can afford, even with his huge tax hikes. And the more his plans become clear, the less convincing is his claim that they are all tied to the economic crisis." Center for Individual Freedom; Friday, March 27, 2009. Michael Goodwin, New York Daily News

"Obama has surely set the tone for the unfolding riot of Liberal hubris. In his effort to reprise the sort of expression of Liberal power we saw in the Thirties and Sixties, Obama has - without a whiff of self-doubt - committed America to $65 Trillion in extra debt, $65 Billion for each one of his first 1oo days, and that's based on an impossibly rosy forecast of the economy. No wonder Congressional Democrats clamor to take over corporations, tax the air we breath, and set wages for everybody." Jonah Goldberg, National Review Online Editor at Large
Before you accuse me of only criticizing and providing Conservative 'talking points', go to the source of my inspiration: Obama's BluePrint for Change.
This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

Public Service article at Liberatchik

Your Obligation to Your Fellow Man is Penance for Your Success

I received emails this week from Barack and Michelle, reminding me of my obligation to 'serve the less fortunate'. From the way they talk, you would think I had committed crimes against humanity because I have worked hard and made sacrifices. You see, they consider people like me lucky because I have things others do not. I suppose the irony of their having more than I do has escaped them. Of course, that's different. I'm a white person who doesn't share their views, so they see me as part of the problem, not an active participant in the solution. I am a golden hen to be slaughtered for my 'riches' in order to support their constituents.
I received emails from the fices of Barack and Michelle on the 22nd and 24th of this month, respectively. Here are just a few of the admonishments and veiled accusations contained in their letters

...."I announced United We Serve - a nationwide call to service, challenging you and all Americans to volunteer this summer...and when I say all, I mean everyone...The First Lady is rolling up her sleeves and getting to work too, but before she does, she has this message for you"...

"We aim to make a real difference right now and bring more Americans into a tradition of life-long service to make an even greater difference down the road... There's an old Thomas Edison quote I've always l liked: 'Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.'...And I believe the chance to serve is a precious gift indeed... As a parent, I think service is a great way to demonstrate values and teach our children firsthand what it means to commit to a purpose beyond ourselves... It should be part of everyone's life. From the moment someone can walk to the day they leave this planet, service should be a part of how we give back, ...how we express gratitude for the lives that we've been given..."

It's time to roll up YOUR sleeves. Not the Obamas', although they are pretending that they will be right there beside us, working to 'improve' America. Not Congress'; they're too busy meeting lobbyists and screwing us over. Not people on the government dole, they'll be on the receiving end of our labor. Not charitable institutions, which are the appropriate organizations to handle community service. US. The productive members of society who are already working hard to make America great. We're supposed to feel guilty for our success and 'good luck'.
We couldn't possibly have worked hard to get where we are. We can't claim to have made sacrifices if they were made for our own benefit or advancement. We are to believe that the only way we contribute to society is by helping those less fortunate, and the only way to do so successfully is under the guidance of government.
As with all of my posts in this Letters series, this is an insight into the mindset of the Progressive. By themselves, these letters are inoffensive in the context in which I receive them. They are being sent out to like-minded drones who are eager to be part of the cool crowd. Some of the underlying points are valid. The problem arises when you examine the larger picture. The Obama's and their ilk don't think we do enough. They think we have an obligation to serve their purposes and they have the authority to enforce their agenda regardless of our willingness to participate.
It is offensive inn the suggestion that they have the right to set standards for our lives. They clearly feel that they have the authority to compel free individuals to serve someone else's needs. By their standards, our lives, property, time and labor are theirs to dispense with and our children are servants to their Progressive agenda.
This sort of thing happened in Germany once. Are you paying attention?

This article is cross posted at Liberatchik.

Ignorance is an Amazing Thing

The following is from my recent article on Liberatchik:

...The shirt reads: Freedom is great. While, on the surface, that seems innocuous and easily defensible, let me address the reason it irks me. This woman, having voted for Obama, has no true concept of freedom. Putting the shirt on a child who will bear the burden of paying the bill and suffering the consequences of his mother's vote is the irony. I hesitate to call it cruel, because I don't believe she is knowingly selling her child into serfdom, but it is certainly ignorant. Further, Obama and the current Congress have no interest in Americans being free.
In closing, I will leave you with an excerpt and a link. The fact that this is coming out of Russia should scare the pants off of you.

..."The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record-setting, not just in America's short history, but in the world. If this keeps up for more than a year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe. ...The proud American will go down into his slavery without a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker."

This quote is an excerpt from an article by Stanislav Mishin @ Pravda.RU

New Posts @ ModCon

Here we go again. Obama, the great promise of Change, Hope, and an end to racial tension proves himself to be just another Socialist hack. We all know nothing he said about equality and diversity on the campaign trail was true, so I'll get to the point. His recent Supreme Court nominee is proof, yet again, that he has no intention of following the rule of law or adhering to the Constitution. I will provide a link to Sotomayor's quote, because I have no interest in addressing that in great detail at this point. I will go so far as to say that her comments were not, by definition, racist; but no less disturbing for that fact.
If you care about individual Liberty, you should fear her for reasons I will address in a future article. On to the point of this post. The art for this week's featured slot on our page is by Alvaro Alvillar. It is an installation that addresses the issue of racism in America. In particular, it addresses the fact that it is universally acceptable to be racist against whites while speaking of diversity and ending racism. It speaks also to the victim mentality and the power wielded in it's defense that is the driving force behind the acceptance of blaming whites and holding them to a different standard than 'minorities'. Finally, it addresses the political power gained by the use of these tactics as well as the guilt many whites feel as a result.

As promised, I am back to explain the real issue behind Obama's nomination of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Everyone under the sun is going on about her remarks being racist. Because they were not, in fact racist, the entire argument has been rendered invalid. Her comments were, however, inappropriate as well as revealing of a larger and more important issue. She is clearly more interested in ruling based on her feelings and opinions rather than the rule of law and that should be the reason to oppose her nomination.
I don't think her feelings or experiences make her any more qualified for the position than her race. These are not even subjects we should be discussing when nominating a judge to the Supreme Court. We should be examining her record as a judge and the fairness of her rulings as defined by law. She should neither be influenced by international opinion, nor foreign law. The Supreme Court is a branch of the United States government, not a tool for promoting globalism.

For those of you who have not heard, Liberatchik has launched with the help of ModernConservative.com. Please take a minute to check it out and learn more about the Declarationist Art Movement now under way. We have recently been joined by some very talented artists. Weekly updates are made to feature Conservative art, music and film. Links are also provided to our signatory artists. New articles a posted 3 or more times a week, which is why I have become scarce around here. Finally, we are working on a FaceBook page. I hope you like what we're doing, and invite you to join us. Any level of help or support is greatly appreciated.

A little constructive criticism for President Obama

One day I will find the time to get my new computer organized. It seemed such a simple thing. You buy a computer, you set it up and transfer files, then you get to work. It's more efficient and you find yourself enjoying sitting down to work. If you're like me that's true. Then you discover how disorganized you were for lack of time on the old machine. Duplicate files, email addresses from god knows who, in no particular order and files you haven't opened in years, not to mention the inability to find things in all the clutter. And to think I was under the impression I'm organized. I guess I should be glad I'm busy enough for it to be a problem.
So, on to the point of this post. I found my tax day letter to Obama, so as promised, I am posting it. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a similar letter to my Congressmen. Hopefully, someone is listening.

President Obama,

I am writing you this letter in the hope that you will give me a few minutes of your time to understand my point of view. When you ran for President, you promised hope and change. You said that you wanted to know what each and every American had to say about the state of our country and our expectations of our government. That is the point of my letter, and I hope you will accept it in the spirit in which it is written.
I know you must be proud, after all, you have made history. I congratulate you on your marketing team and your ability to convince the American people that you will do the job well. Unfortunately, you are proving yourself to be just another status quo politician. You talk about the failed policies of the Bush administration, while escalating the massive spending and regulation that defined your predecessor.
Because I know you are a busy man, I will not burden you with criticism and diatribe. I will simply give you some suggestions to do with as you will.

1. I suggest you read Atlas Shrugged. I am sure you're sick of hearing about it, so in the interest of brevity, I am including copies of the more important pages from my own edition of the book. Ms. Rand left Communist Russia because of the tyranny and poverty imposed on the people by her government. She saw first-hand what an over-bearing government does to its people.

2. Please take the time to read some history. This will back up the points made in Ms. Rand's book. Collectivism does not work, and you cannot make it work. It sounds great as a sound bite to say you want to 'spread the wealth around', but what gives you that right? Are you going to spread your own wealth around in the interest of fairness? I find it very disconcerting that my President is willing to hurt the economy in the name of fairness. I'm quoting you from the campaign, by the way.

3. Making everyone equal only brings people down. Who do you expect to keep the country going when we are all equally poor? You can print money all day, but we all know that makes things worse. The only way government has to generate income is through taxes. You can talk about the evil rich all day, but it is everyone who will bear the burden of paying for the bailouts that just passed. And you continue to call for more.

America is a great country, and I would like it to stay that way. You were elected to do a job, not enforce your personal ideology. I hope you will take a moment to evaluate your actions and the consequences they have for the rest of us. I would also like to suggest that you stop fear mongering every time you speak. Please consider putting forth some real solutions that will instill the American people and the world with the confidence we need to move forward in a positive direction.
My suggestion to you is that we need less government, not more. Less regulation, not more. America was founded on the principles of individual liberty and freedom. It is time to reacquaint ourselves with the concept. The Fair Tax would be a good place to start. My second suggestion stems from another of your campaign promises: eliminate all inefficient and unnecessary government programs and departments.
Thank you for your time and consideration, Mr. Obama. I hope that you will not simply disregard my letter because you don't like what I have to say. Whether you agree with me or not, I have a right to my opinion. I respect you as the President of the United States, for better or worse. I hope you will extend me the same respect as a citizen under your governance. We both have a huge responsibility as Americans. I hope you prove yourself worthy of that distinction.
Sincerely,
Frances
frances@machinepolitick.com
www.machinepolitick.com

I'm going to start passing on some quotes

I'm not sure how this will go, but the goal is to put something up every day. When I have time, I will also post a comment or information on the historic significance of the quote in question. Since this is the first installment, I will provide two related quotes. Both were sent to me in emails from Downsizer DC.

"A socialist is somebody who doesn't have anything, and is ready to divide it up equally among everybody." George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish comic dramatist
"Being the state means never having to say you're sorry." -- D.A. Ridgely (Source: Positive Liberty blog, March 23, 2009)

Both of these quotes are exceedingly relevant to the current situation in America. The general populace has been convinced that the government is the source and creator of all wealth and security. When something goes wrong, ironically, it is blamed on the evil rich. The government is expected to step in again, and do something to correct problems that were created by the government and blamed on the private sector. It sounds so absurd, I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it happening every day. I'm beginning to be afraid to listen to the news any more.
The quote by Shaw is particularly interesting in the fact that I see it's application everywhere. Our President talks of wealth redistribution knowing that the only outcome will be to bring the people with money down to the level of those with none. That may sound good on the surface, but in reality it is evil and detrimental to all involved.
First, the majority of rich people got that way through hard work. If they inherited the money, it was because someone who cared about them worked hard. With the rare exception, rich people don't get that way by taking advantage of the rest of us. Someone told me recently that ,"You don't dictate policy on extreme cases". Too bad our government hasn't heard that one.
Second, where do you think your job came from? Did it magically appear by the grace of government, or did someone create it for you through their own hard work? If you take everything they have and divide it up in the name of fairness, will you have a job left to go to? If you work for yourself, do you think you owe a job to someone who is unemployeed because they 'need' it?
Third, most poor people remain poor through bad decisions and lack of initiative. If you can't make it in America, you're doing something wrong.
Forth, as the quote implies, socialists are typically looking out for themselves. If they want wealth redistribution, it is to get more money without earning it. If they already have money, they are looking for power. If Obama and Congress were really concerned about helping the 'poor', they would redistribute some of their own wealth. I'd like to see the hypocrites lead by example for once. As with everything else a politician promises, 'charity' comes out of our pockets, not their own.
As for charity, it can't come from government. The government has no source of income other than taxes. Confiscatory redistribution is not charity. You have to own the money and give it willingly to call it charity. I also think the person receiving help should look their benefactor in the eye and be grateful for their charity. The anonymity of government handouts leads to people thinking someone owes them something.
The Ridgely quote is a good summary of my argument. If you don't have to apologize for your actions or take responsibility, you are free to do as you please. Ironically, Liberals bemoan the dispassion and cruelty of Capitalism. However, the real cruelty is in punishing success, then blaming the successful for your own inadequacies.
I'll take freedom over comfort and security any day. Nothing is free. The government, like the mob and the unions, expect something in return for 'helping' you. Are you willing to hack off your pound of flesh when the time comes? Should you have to?

My Tax Day Letters to Congress

Yesterday was an extremely busy day. As a matter of fact, I am still recovering. I have the unfortunate habit of working too much, and all the late nights have started to add up. Regardless, I rattled off some letters yesterday to my Representatives in the Senate, as well as President Obama. I seem to have misplaced Mr. Obama's letter, so I will add it in a later post. It is similar enough to this one that you will get the point. To Mr. Linder, my Representative in the House, I sent a thank you card. He does a good job and seldom disappoints me. I am willing to excuse the approval of Hillary to Obama's cabinet in view of the fact that it removes her from the Senate. It is one of the few things the President has done right in recent months. So, without further ado, my letter. Make of it what you will. Rumor has it I'm a Right Wing Extremist.

Mr. Chambliss and Mr. Isakson,
I am writing you this letter in the hope that you will give me a few minutes of your time to understand my point of view. I have long been disappointed with your performances as my representatives in the Senate. You do not uphold the Conservative principles of limited government and individual liberty that are the cornerstones of Republicanism. To be fair, you are not the only guilty parties in Congress. However, you are the ones who represent me and I feel it is past time to make my opinions clear to you. You have not only lost my vote, but I will make sure every Republican I know is aware of your voting record and the affect your decisions have on the lives of the people. You have been in office too long, and signed off on too much spending and regulation. It is time for you to be replaced in the Senate by truly Conservative politicians who will fight back against the Democrat majority and represent the views of the people. Because I know you are busy men, I will not burden you with criticism and diatribe. I will simply give you some suggestions to do with as you will.
1. I suggest you read Atlas Shrugged. I am sure you're sick of hearing about it, so in the interest of brevity, I am including copies of the more important pages from my own edition of the book. Ms. Rand left Communist Russia because of the tyranny and poverty imposed on the people by her government. She saw first-hand what an over-bearing government does to its people.
2. Please take the time to read some history. This will back up the points made in Ms. Rand's book. Collectivism does not work, and you cannot make it work. It doesn't matter why you want an earmark or an entitlement, the results are the same -bigger government and higher taxes.
3.Making everyone equal only brings people down. Who do you expect to keep the country going when we are all equally poor? You can print money all day, but we all know that makes things worse. The only way government has to generate income is through taxes. I appreciate that you opposed the recent bailouts. However, you supported Bush's stimulus package which was both unnecessary, and unfair to the people who have worked hard and made the appropriate decisions in their personal lives. It is not government's job to help people or redistribute wealth. By supporting the stimulus, you helped open the door for the current round of bailouts and regulation. It is hypocritical for you to say that you support one and not the other. Both were wrong.
America is a great country, and I would like it to stay that way. You were elected to do a job, not enforce your personal ideology, or to try to help people. I hope you will take a moment to evaluate your actions and the consequences they have for the rest of us. Please consider putting forth some real solutions that will instill the American people and the world with the confidence we need to move forward in a positive direction. My suggestion to you is that we need less government, not more. Less regulation, not more. America was founded on the principles of individual liberty and freedom. It is time to reacquaint ourselves with the concept. The Fair Tax would be a good place to start. Thank you for your time and consideration, Senators. I hope that you will not simply disregard my letter because you don't like what I have to say. Whether you agree with me or not, I have a right to my opinion. I respect you as my representatives in Congress, for better or worse. I hope you will extend me the same respect as a citizen under your governance. We both have a huge responsibility as Americans. I hope you prove yourself worthy of that distinction in the future.

After I wrote the letters, I stood in line at the post office for 45 minutes to mail them. After all, everyone was trying not to pay those nasty taxes just yet. After getting my son from school and taking him to a friend's house, I was on my way to the Tea Party with 15,000+ people, where I was happy to hear that some of them had sent similar letters and copies of Atlas Shrugged. There's hope for this country yet.
More on the Tea Party later...

Make your voice heard

I am providing a link to a letter to Congress, in the hope that it will inspire you to write your own. Regardless of your point of view, or level of agreement, you should not sit idly by while our government runs roughshod over our lives and the future of our children.
http://www.spinpolitico.com/forum/topics/letter-to-the-houses
I am currently writing my own letter to Congress and President Obama, in protest of the rampant escalation of government interference in the market and our private lives in an absurd attempt to 'correct' issues caused by government interference in the market and our private lives. I am also enclosing pages from Atlas Shrugged with important quotes and passages underlined so the people who can't even read a Bill that affects the future of our country, won't be forced to read the entire book. There is a campaign going, http://go-galt.org/, that is encouraging people to mail copies of Atlas Shrugged to Washington. Since I cannot afford to buy so many copies, and my husband assures me that they will end up in the trash, I have decided to send the most important parts in an effort to preserve my extra copy for the more important purpose of loaning to friends.
If you feel as I do, that our government is out of control, do something about it. We may not agree on all issues, but we can work together to change the things that are causing us mutual concern. The most important issue at hand is the loss of our individual liberties and the unconstitutional expansion of government. America is a Republic. God forbid it ever become a Democracy. Do you want to be at the mercy of mob rule? I don't!
More to come soon, in the mean time here's an excerpt from the letter mentioned above....

Posted by SavantNoir at http://www.spinpolitico.com/
Unalienable rights were not conferred by Man, they were bestowed by a Creator, nor was it ever intended that they be taken by Man. Our individual rights operate within the sphere of a civil society that recognizes our individuality and right to discover and exercise our potential so long as it remains tempered in such a way as to not infringe on another’s rights. Although all men are created equal in the eyes of the law, we all remain unequal in character, temperament, aptitude, drive, and spirit. Legislature that seeks to homogenize man will erode a civil society and undermine industrious productivity.

Unalienble rights are the basis for a Moral Society and the fabric of National Unity. Each individual is granted the freedom to practice their spirituality in any manner they deem fit, so long as they respect our cultural heritage. Immigrants refuse to be assimilated into our country and the Liberals tear our foundations to shreds as they deny America so as not to offend others. History has shown repeatedly that once a Society loses all moral ground, the culture disintegrates and fails. Ironically, the primary reason Terrorists seek to destroy us is because in their eyes we are morally decadent and a blight to humanity. In our own country, morality is eschewed for ever-changing hedonistic perversity which is to be accepted as normal, while religion and spirituality are deemed the new perversity. Without underlying connectivity of a Moral Code that is strengthed by the ability to communicate effectively with Societal members sharing a common language; we to will soon implode from within.

A civil society is maintained by a rule of law that is known, just, predictable, and applied equally to all people. The framework for these laws is set forth in the Constitution, which preclude the use of arbitrary manipulation and the abuse of power that such manipulations result in. The arbitrary manipulation of these laws undermines freedom of enterprise and erodes financial markets. How is it possible for a company or individual to plan for tomorrow when there is no legal certitude of what that tomorrow may bring?

Our modern Utopian Liberal leaders believe in the power of Government where the few are dictating to the many. With total abandon they seek to negate the equal opportunity of the individual to explore and benefit from his/her own unique potential, by illegally suppressing individuals into a state of equality through manipulation of the law and authoritarian pressures never intended by our Founders.

The Constitution is clear in delineating Federal power, and specifically enumerates the confines it should operate within. Beyond these narrow parameters the power remained with the states and the individuals. The Liberal’s thirst for power constantly manipulates public perception via their endless litany of false pretexts and grievances that incessantly demonize the industrious, the earnest, and the successful as the perpetrators of civil inequity that they use to rationalize further government intervention. The goodwill of unfettered man can be demonstrated over and over again in our history, and although not perfect, the benevolence of his nature that is born within the womb of freedom outstrips greatly the animosity and discord created via legislated constraints. Will a small business owner feel goodwill towards an employee he is forced to endure and compensate despite a lack of contribution, simply because of compliancy to Union contracts?

We Americans are outraged watching our Leaders commit political and economic schizophrenia. We will no longer tolerate the greed, corruption, collusion, incompetence, and manipulations. The Liberals are drunk with power and the cathexses of their impoverished and tarnished soul plays out in our Society in self-defeating contradictions. Let’s consider in small part how Government intervention and the Liberal hyperbole have undermined this country...

Two new ModCon posts

Conservatives need their own message.
We're helping Liberals invalidate our own philosophy.

Destroying the Economy to promote Socialism

I recently received an email with a link that I think everyone should look at. I know the people who support Obama like to call people like me conspiracy theorists, and sweep us under the carpet. It is little consolation that they will have no one to thank but themselves when we are all in an equal state of misery.
Have you noticed how quickly the government and entitlements have grown since January 20th? Rather than waste time with a rant, I will direct you to the information so you can judge for yourself.

Barack Obama is Destroying Our Economy on Purpose. Description: A pair of radical Columbia University professors by the name of Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven wrote an article in the radical magazine known as The Nation. The article was published on May 2, 1966 and laid out what is now known as the "Cloward-Piven Strategy".

The plan calls for the destruction of capitalism in America by swelling the welfare rolls to the point of collapsing our economy and then implementing socialism by nationalizing many private institutions. Cloward and Piven studied Saul Alinsky just like Hillary Clinton and President Obama. Listen as Brannon and his guest James Simpson explain how Cloward and Piven inspired the creation of ACORN that Obama worked for as a community organizer.

This interview must be e-mailed all over the country. Americans must awaken and understand the goal of these radicals and what is to come if they succeed. Time is of the essence. Obama is not over his head as some have claimed; he knows exactly what he is doing. Understand the Cloward-Piven Strategy, the rules of Saul Alinsky and their Cultural Marxist world view and you will understand that what is occurring is not by mistake.

Google Cloward- Piven, below and you will see clearly what the strategy of the left really intends for this country.

THE SITE http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6967

My first protest!

These pictures are all from the Atlanta Tea Party Protest. The little girl's sign read:
Don't Mortgage My Future

By Frances at Machine Politick

I attended the Tea Party protest at the Atlanta Capitol building yesterday. Because this was my first protest, it was very exciting to be there. Hopefully it is the beginning of a much larger movement to restore our country to the Constitutional Republic it was meant to be.

First, let me say how impressed I was by the turnout. It was cold and rainy all day yesterday. When I left home, I was afraid there would not be a significant turnout because of the weather. Boy, was I wrong, and happily so. In the spirit of the original Tea Party in Boston ,people from Atlanta showed up with their tea bags and their signs to protest the recent escalation of government spending that can only lead to higher taxes. I spent all day on Thursday making my sign and getting ready for the protest. When I got into downtown Atlanta, and drove past the Capitol building, the steps were packed. I couldn't say how many people, but it was impressive, given the weather. A gentleman was nice enough to share his umbrella with me on the way over from the parking garage, and everyone seemed in high spirits when I got there. Passers by were honking and waving, possibly in response to some of the protestors' signs. The girl next to me had a sign that read: Honk if you're paying my mortgage. And, honk they did. One of my favorite signs from the rally was a large banner that read: Read Atlas Shrugged before it happens. I couldn't have said it better. I hope to post some of my pictures later today on my blog.

Several Atlanta officials spoke, as well as the organizer of the protest and a few people from the crowd. Many of the participants had video cameras and posted live video to YouTube. I will provide the links at the bottom of the article. Chip Rogers gave a good speech. Some of his points had great impact; encouraging the crowd to raise their voices and their signs. He said, "We owe our Founding Fathers for their sacrifices to build this country, ...It's time to kick out the Socialists in our government, ...The time to stand by and be nice is over, ... and Let's stand up for our Freedom!"

John Oxendine was there as well, and got the crowd motivated with his comments: "This economy was caused by government intervention in the private sector...This bailout teaches irresponsibility... This is a revolution, we are going to take back control..." I was not close to the speakers, and it was too wet for a notepad, but you get the idea. I was closer to the street most of the protest, and was happy to see how well the people driving by were reacting to the protest. In fact, people were honking and waving at me after the rally as I made my way back to the car, soaking wet in a coat that probably weighed as much as I do. I think if it had been held on an evening or weekend, there would have been a much larger turnout. Many people who were discussing the event during the planning stages were unable to attend because of work.

I was very impressed by the level of organization and the number of people involved. Many of the people who were there had only just gotten word of the protest and quickly made signs to join in. I am glad to see that conservatives are learning to network and use the internet to organize events. In the past, we have always been afraid to get in other peoples' business or expose ourselves publicly for political issues. Yesterday, I saw many people who were fed up and fired up. I hope this will lead to future events and spark a movement to have our voices heard. Whether we are the majority or minority, our rights remain the same and we have to stand up for them. Standing quietly by in fear of offending other people will only lead to oppression of our principles and freedom. In a few short weeks, Obama and Congress have shown a willingness and ability to push their agenda with no regard for its effect on the American people or the economy. We must fight back before it is too late.

If we are to save our country and preserve our freedoms, we must return to the principles on which it was built. My sign for the rally read: Give me Liberty or Give me Death, Restore America to a Constitutional Republic. We have to scale back the government to its Constitutionally mandated powers and function. Socialism does not and cannot work. History has proven, the only way to achieve collectivism is through force and tyranny. The productive must be punished in the name of the 'common good'. There is no longer any incentive to be productive, and everyone suffers as a result. Socialism does not raise up the meek and the downtrodden. It brings down the successful members of society who produce the wealth and provide the jobs and services that we all need. People need to learn personal responsibility and the fact that our actions have consequences. If the government steps in and rewards failure, there is no reason to make the right decision.

My favorite sign from the protest was dripping and tattered by the time I saw it, but I was able to get a picture. There was a family not far from me, and one of their little girls had a sign that was dragging on the ground. It read: Don't mortgage my future. As the mother of a five year old boy, that says it all for me. I don't want my child growing up in the kind of country that America is becoming. For that reason, this was the first of many protests to come for me.

Pictures from Dennis in Atlanta

Pictures and News from James Arone in LA

Other sources of information on the Atlanta and National Rallies include: The AJC, The LA Times, Jacksonville, Santelli, and YouTube, as well as a long list on Google.

I have cross posted this article at Modern Conservative

Spread the word, and spill some tea!

Let's Have a Tea Party!
This is a link to a nationwide rally to protest the recent actions of Congress and the new administration. It is long overdue. I won't get into a rant on why this should have happened while Bush was in office. As they say, better late than never!
I'm actually impressed. I didn't expect the Conservatives to get so worked up, so early in the game. I can't help but ask if it's only because the Republicans are in the minority, to the point where they have no say any more. Ooops, I said I wouldn't rant.
Needless to say. I'm excited. It's about time people woke up and started to protest the actions of our overbearing government. I'm interested to see what effect this will have on Washington. It's looking like an interesting 4 years.

The Future Indeptedness Bill has passed

Hey, everybody. I know some of you don't share my views or live outside the US, so disregard this post if it doesn't reply.
To the rest of you, who are probably angry, please read and pass on the article I have linked below. This sham of a 'stimulus' bill that just passed Congress is going to put a huge burden on my generation as well as those of future generations. Government, which is already too large and intrusive, is going to expand to unheard of proportions. We have been screwed in the name of paybacks and welfare projects, just one month into Obama's administration. Who knows what's coming next? Considering I read the Blueprint for America, I have a pretty good idea. The Democrats have become so enamored of themselves this election, they are grasping for everything they can think of. Plus they have MoveOn.org and every other 'Progressive' organization clamoring for a handout. Because I put myself on their email lists to better know my enemy, I get some interesting information from their side. I'm guess none of you are surprised to see President Obama went back on his word regarding everything he said during the campaign. Except for Change, because he's certainly giving us that! The future looks grim indeed.
Commentary on the Stimulus Bill, from SPIN.com
Extra reading from Ron Paul.

My Latest on Modern Conservative

Throwing Pearls Before Swine
I decided to revisit an old drawing about the spending habits of Congress. I'll leave the lengthy commentary on the stimulus bill to more eloquent writers. The imagery and title say it all.

The Future Indebtedness Package...Oink!

As you can probably guess, I've been busy writing letters in opposition to the 'stimulus package' Obama is demanding that we swallow. I know he got into office because of banana republic voting methods, but this is still Amaerica. (I say this because a woman stood up at one of my art shows and admonished everyone to vote early and often because we need Obama.) His petulance and unprofessionalism, not to mention hypocrisy are astounding. So here is my most recent letter.
Senators Chambliss and Isakson, please stick to your principles on the
stimulus package and every other issue you address this year no matter
what the cost. President Obama is showing himself to be a petulant child
who demands his way, or else. It is disappointing to see a candidate who
ran on the promise of change, ending earmarks and wasteful government
programs, as well as the influence of lobbyists go back on his word
regarding all topics within his first month in office. This bill is an
atrocity, denounced even by the Congressional Budget Office as wasteful
and ineffective. I do not want to see future generations burdened with the
expense of this bill. Obama keeps saying he won. You did as well, or you
wouldn't be in office. Do not allow Obama to marginalize the opinions of a
large minority (48%) of voters, simply because they disagree with him. The
mantra of the left has always been 'every vote counts'. Please stand up to
these strong-arm tactics. You represent the people of Georgia, and were
put in office to uphold our principles, not Obama's wishes. Thank you for
your time, and continued efforts on my behalf.
President Obama, shame on you. Hypocrisy is not a virtue.

Did Ayn Rand have a premonition of Obama?

Some of these quotes are amazingly eerie, in their description of characters resembling Obama. Although he claims to be the agent of 'Change', he is quite the personification of socialist dogma. He is Elsworth Toohey in his arrogance and quest for power, and Peter Keating in his whiny
For those of you who are new to my blog, thanks for joining me. These installments are research for future paintings, and the answer to a friend's request for more Rand.

...His thinking is muddy enough to [demand] an absolute obedience to those ideas from others, but not from himself. He isn't above...accepting money when doing so is quite safe although not quite clean, and forgiving in his "friends" the crimes for which he would destroy an "enemy".

He is a very prominent figure. Especially popular among the semi-literate lower classes... rather indifferent themselves, but will not tolerate any disrespect or disbelief of his authority...

He hates all successful people. A successful man, in any line, is his personal enemy. He rejoices at every failure and at the fall of every idol.

The human herds. All the gatherings of average humanity which have but one aim: to ruin all individuals and individuality, to put "we" instead of "I" everywhere, to have a herd of submissive insiders against everyone outside who "does not belong", everyone who has the courage and conscience to walk alone. The tyranny of number, of multitude, of the average. Communism already established - unofficially.

A mob's feeling of omnipotence is its most jealously guarded possession and therefore a dangerous thing to wound. The mob can forgive any insult or crime except one: challenging its ultimate power... but to see a man who has freed himself from it entirely, who has nothing in common with it, a man who does not need it and who openly disdains it - this is the one crime a mob can never forgive.

...He made an unintelligent speech, full of common platitudes, showing a complete lack of imagination or originality. He had the nerve to speak in defense of the people, the country, the world and soon!...

Everything centered around one idea - one propaganda - and that idea fed to the people until they mentally suffocate.

A terrific machinery crushing the whole country and smothering every bit of life, action and air.
A picture of the state, strangling the individual. A picture of the masses showing who and what those masses are, their ideas, and their rise against the unusual and higher man.

Kira: "But there is a life, a life that I saw, that I was waiting for - and I have a right to it. Who is taking it away from me and why are they doing it?"

The All-Pervading Propaganda: It's ridiculous, far-fetched connections. Its intentionally vulgar,"popular" style and artificial bravado. Glorifying of the drudgery and the "everyday". Its main methods: employment - enforced meetings, "social activists", demonstrators, enforced deductions of pay for "patriotic" enterprises; and schools - enforced study of unscientific "social sciences", a "red" angle on all activities.

The individual against society and a time when society is at its worst and makes itself felt most strongly.